Poettker Construction’s Drone Program Improves Safety, Quality, and Efficiency
/With the launch of its in-house drone program, Poettker Construction, an Illinois-based general contractor, is improving safety, quality control, and efficiency across its job sites.
In-house or Outsource? That’s the Question
When enterprises are launching their drone programs, they have a lot of decisions to make. One of the largest is: in-house program, outsourced partner, or a combination?
Poettker Construction made the strategic decision to invest in its own drone equipment and in-house operators to reduce outsourcing costs and take greater control over project data. "There’s an advantage to having control over the data and being able to do more with the data that you’re collecting," Charles Wilson, Poettker’s vice president of risk management, told Construction Dive.
Poettker’s aerial fleet incorporates multiple drone models with unique specialties from quick deployment and thermal imaging to a larger full-service model that can withstand higher winds. By keeping drone operations in-house, Poettker has been able to maximize the value of the data collected while seamlessly integrating drone capabilities into its core operations. The firm sees drones not as a separate tech initiative, but as an essential tool in construction management.
Enhancing Safety, Quality, and Productivity
Drones are now playing a role in multiple areas of Poettker’s operations:
Safety Inspections: Drones allow project teams to inspect elevated positions and hazardous areas—like power lines—without putting personnel at risk.
Quality Control: The drones provide the on-site teams with a second review method, which enables them to respond more quickly, significantly strengthening the company’s quality assurance efforts.
Project Marketing: Poettker’s market team can also use drone photography and videography to document progress and showcase projects to clients and stakeholders.
Across departments, the Poettker team is seeing the benefits of drones:
“The drone program has been a great asset to use within the Preconstruction Department,” said Ryan Diekemper, vice president of preconstruction. “We utilize this technology to take current aerial images of potential projects and then place the proposed building plan onto the site to provide the client with a better understanding of options for how a building could be sited onto the potential property.
With drone data and imagery, customers can monitor the progress of their project, a feature especially important to customers who don’t reside in the same state as their new building.
“One of the most significant benefits of our drone program is its impact on our risk management efforts,” said Wilson. “Drones enable us to cover larger areas more quickly and gather high-quality data. With a single flight, we can create 3D models, conduct thermal scans, perform quantitative takeoffs, and carry out surveys. This comprehensive data collection enhances the productivity of our risk management staff, allowing them to focus on critical tasks with greater efficiency.”
Overcoming Adoption Challenges
As with any new technology, Poettker faced initial challenges in implementing its drone program. According to Logan Decker, who leads the program, site teams sometimes need reminders that they can adopt drones into their workflow. "Normally, they’re going to go to what they’ve relied on over the past few years," Decker said. "It’s just slowly and steadily growing the number of flights and the frequency."
Another key lesson was managing expectations. The drone program is taking off, so with growing demand for drone support across departments, Poettker had to develop a scheduling system. Employees can now use an online form to request a drone flight.
For companies considering a similar investment, Wilson advises focusing on clear goals and training. When implementing the program, Poettker purchased training on the equipment they were buying in order to understand the capabilities of these new tools.
The Bigger Picture: Drones in Construction
Poettker’s success mirrors broader industry trends. Drones are transforming construction by improving surveying accuracy, streamlining project monitoring, and reducing the risk of workplace injuries. From site inspections to 3D modeling, contractors across the U.S. are finding innovative ways to integrate drones into their operations.
With its in-house drone program, Poettker Construction is proving that UAV technology is quickly becoming an essential part of modern construction.
Playbook for New Drone Programs
Construction firms and other enterprises looking to add drone programs should follow Poettker’s lead and take a strategic approach to deciding on internal adoption, outsourcing, or both.
Demonstrating early wins—such as improved safety inspections or enhanced quality monitoring—can help build buy-in among site teams. It’s important to position drones as a tool that enhances existing workflows rather than as a replacement for traditional methods.
Another key factor to consider early on is scalability. When planning a proof of concept, it’s important to plan for a successful outcome and understand how the POC can scale.
Finally, consider the long-term return on investment. Initial equipment and training costs may seem significant, but the ability to reduce rework, enhance safety, and improve quality can result in significant savings over time.
Here’s a high-level list of next steps for starting a new drone program:
Evaluate Your Needs – Identify key areas where drones can improve safety, quality, and efficiency. Get inspiration from Poettker and others.
Research the Big Decisions – Start looking into in-house vs outsourced programs, drone hardware and software providers, data management and AI analysis tools, and other core decisions that will need to be made.
Create a Training and Education Plan – Engage your team early by soliciting feedback about potential drone use cases, and educate them on the benefits of drones in your industry.
Pilot a Small-Scale Drone Program – Start with a small fleet and team, then expand as demand grows and use cases are proven.
Track ROI and Adjust – Measure time savings, cost reductions, and safety improvements to refine your program over time.
